Artificial leg



w. I. BURNS. ARTIFICIAL LEG.

Jan. 2, 1923;

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

FILED MAR-29.1922.

a wuc m Int anion 1 c I.

Jan. 2, 1923.

' 1,440,816 W. I. BURNS. ARTIFICIAL LEG.

FILED MAR. 29, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 upper ends of the strips 11 to the front por- Patented Jan. 2,

ARTIFICIAL LEG.

Application filed lilarch 29,1922. Serial No. 547,902.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVILL AM 1. Bonus, a citizen of the United States, residing at Parnell, in the county of Nodaway and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful lmprovementszin Artificial Legs; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such 'as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same. 7

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in artificial limbs and particularly to artificial legs. j

One object of the invention is to provide an artificial leg having a knee joint with improved means for locking the joint when the leg is in standing position, and for releasing the joint when the weight of the wearer is shifted, asin taking a step.

Another object of the invention is to provide an artificial leg of this character which is adjustable in length and wherein this ad'- justment does not interfere withthe mechanism of the knee locking, wherein the knee lock does not need to be adjusted.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing. In the drawing:

Figure l is a side'elevation of an artificial leg, made in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a verticallongitudinal sectional view'on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,-

showing the leg in standing position.

Figure 4: is a section on the same line as that of Figure '3 but showing the knee oint .bent.

Referring ing drawing 10 represents a stumpsocket formed of leather, and provided with means for connection of a harnes not shown, and means for lacing the socket .around. the stump. J v a i Secured to the opposite sides of the stump socket are the downwardly. and inwardly extending metal strips 11, the same being horizontal half disk 13. Curved strips 11 extend downwardly an'd forwardly from the tion ofthe flange of the diskto which they are connected, The flange 12 extends rearparticularly to the accompany connected to the vertical flange 12, of the wardly and the ends thereof are apertured and register with the upper apertured ends of the side bars 14 of the lower leg portion 15. i j

1 Disposed between the ends of the flange is a metal tube 16, and disposed through the registered portions of the frame'of the leg, and through the tube is a pivot-bolt 17. This'bolt is provided with a nut 18, which is tightened sufliciently to hold the bolt against rotation, the ends of the flange 12 rocking on the ends of the bolt. The tube is secured within the ends of the flange of the disk so that it also rotates on the bolt. Adjustably connected to the lower ends of the side bars 14 are the lower sections 14:, and to the lower ends of these lower sections is connected the foot 19. This foot herein. 7

A curved strip 22 has itsends secured to the'upper ends of the bar 14:, below the bolt 17, and having the'same curvature as the flange of the disk 13. Extending transversely between the. bars 14, intermediate their lengths is abarj23, and extending from the ends of this bar upwardly and curving outward are the bars 24, their upper ends being secured to the strip 22. A bracket 25, is secured to and extends between these bars or braces 24, just below the member 22 and engaged with this bracket is the hook 26 carried by the lower end of a strap 27 which is connected to the stump socket by. means of the elastic straps 28.

Curved spring bands 29 are secured to the lower sections 14 to form the lower part of the leg and ankle. Pivotally mounted on the bracket 25, inwardly of the members 24, is a hook 80, the upper end of which extends upwardly through a slot 31 in the disk 13, said hook being arranged to engage the forward end wallof said slot to hold the a transversely extending and outwardly bowed brace 32, and secured to this brace,

and extending inwardly therefrom is a bracket33, Pivoted intermediate its length on thisfbracket is a ng spring strip 34;, the

upper ends being pivotally connected to the hook member 30, below the pivoted 1nounting thereofQ The lower end of this spring strip 3 1% .is provided with an inwardly extending horizontal member which embraces the lower portion of the spring plate 21, as is clearly seen in the sectional views.

Disposed through the bar 23 is a screw or bolt 36, the same having nuts 37 disposed thereon, above: and below the bar, 23.respectively,,whileftheupper endis formedwith a 11001:.37, Connected to the lower face of} the disk 13 at their upper ends, and at their lowerends to hook38,are coil springs 39, which ,exertfpull on the disk and on the lower-leg portion to restore them to normal position with the hook 3,0 connected with the walliof the slot. Thelowerv ends ofthe members l lflare connected with theopposite sides of the .body by means of a stationary bolt passing through the foot so that the foot will rock, as in theact of walking. The springines's of the plate 21andthe spring member 31 ,serve to resiliently maintain the footin proper position with respect to the lower leg portion.

hen the leg is in normal vertical position as when standing, theknee joint will'not bend, but when weight is advanced forward so that the :foot rocks on] the lower ends of the bars 14, the spring plate 2-1 will be flexed ,rearwardlypulling thelower end of the spring strip 3% so that itwill rock on its pivotal connection with the bracket 33. This res ilts in the ,hook30 being, rocked to tlisengage it it'roni the wall oithe slot of the disk 13,, thus permitting thehnjee to bend. Then as the wearer;aclvances,;iorward and lifts theleg slightly above the ground, the cooil spring 39 will. liftand swingfthe lower leg portion forward with th e res'u lti that the llrneef joint will close and lock thus permittingthe wearer to throw the weight of his body forwardon the leg. Thenas the body moves forward the weight of the body will restion a rigid structure without danger of the lance joint breaking. Thus there is no danger oi? the knee, joint bending except when weight is applied to the legin such relation to the tootns to cause the vfoot to move the hook mechanism to leasethe Same.

' Below ,the trans verse bar :23, is a slo te e0 throughlwhieh the upper end of the spring plate 21 is slidably disposed, This transvers b holding h ipper en o the plate to permit proper flexing thereot by theankleot the foot.

An additional, brace 41 is secured to the rearof the'stump socket and extends downwardlyiand inwardly therefrom where it is ,,conne;ted to the central portion of the tube 1.6. p a d l I Secured to theflhottoinof thefltobt 19,, by m an at sirens, i a flat meta span/e14 the same extending forwardlypast the front end of the foot. The forward end ofthe foot iscut oil, and heyondthis end, to torni the toe, is a pad 441-; of felt layers, which will readily yield, or bend when the wei 'htixojf the -.wearer is moved forwardlv tfi v/ The forward end oi the spring l2 is formed with alongitudinal opening 43, and stitches 4-5 are passed vertically through the felt pad andthesole 46,-0f the foot,'and through the opening 43, to hold the parts together. This opening 43 isof considerable width, so that vthe tte'lt pad may fiex straight forward, or sidewise, when" the weight is applied to either side otthe foot.

What is claimed is:

1. An artificial leg comprising an upper and a lower leg'porti'on having a knee joint the-rebetween, ajfoot having anankle movably connected with thelower leg portion, a resiliently held lock for the joint, a flexible lever connected with the lock, and means rigidly carriedj by the ankle for movement therewith and loosely engaged with the flexible lever.

12. Anartificial leg including upper and lower leg portions connected :by a knee joint, ahook p'ivotallycarriedby the lower leg portion and spring held in engagement with the upper leg portion, a foot'pivotally mounted on the lowerleg portion, flexible lever pivotally carried by the lower-leg portion and pivotally connected with the hook, and a member rigidly carried by and movable with the it'ootand slidably engaged with the flexible lever for movement of the lever andrelease of the-hook upon pivotal movement of-the "foot; f p

An "artificial jleg inclu'dingan upper leg portion and a lower' leg portion, a knee jolnt between the leg portions, the

portion of theknee joint carried by the upper leg portion including an apertured disk, a hook plvotally mounted on the lower leg POIUOII and engaging with one wall of the opening oi the disk to hold the joint against movemenha'foot pivotally mounted on the lower end of the lower leg portion and having an upwardly extending ankle portion, a pivoted spring lever mounted on the lower leg portion and pivotally connected with the. hook, and a spring fplate carried by the ankle portion and engaging with the pivotedflever for movement of the lever uponpivotal movemerit b'fthe foot.

4:. An artificial leg including an upper leg portion and alowerleg portion, pivotal connections between the leg portions, a slotted disk carried by the upper leg portion, a hook pivotally supported on the lower leg portion and extending through the slot of the disk-for engagement with one wall thereof, a resilient lever pivotal'ly supported on the lower leg-portionand pivotally'connected to -the hook, afoot pivotally carried by the lower end of: the lower ment thereby to release the hook upon the leg portion and having an upwardly extendpivotal movement of the foot. 10 ing ankle, a transverse slot guide on the In testimony whereof, I afiix my signalower leg portion. a vertically extending e, in the p esence Of 6W0 Witnesses. resilient plate carried by the ankle and slid- ILLIAM I. BURNS.

able through the guide, and an inturned por- Witnesses:

tion carried by the lower end of the lever BRYANT MITCHELL,

slidably engaging with the plate. for move- FRED MEssRAIeE. 

